Brewing the Perfect Cup

Grinding Coffee Beans

Coffee beans should be ground specifically for your chosen brewing method just prior to brewing

Choosing the wrong grind can destroy the flavor of even the very best quality beans.

If the grind is too fine, the coffee will be bitter and over-extracted.

If the grind is too coarse, the coffee will taste weak and sour.

Burr grinder

A burr grinder has rotating metal discs with sharp ridges—or burrs to grind coffee beans.

This type of grinder is typically adjustable from very fine to coarse and produces a more consistent particle size compared to a blade grinder. Consistent particle size is the key to brewing quality coffee—making burr grinders the choice of coffee professionals.

Burr grinder settings:

Espresso          1 - 4      (fine)    

Drip                  5 – 8     (medium)

French Press     9 – 13   (coarse)

Brewing methods

Coffee Press (French Press)                        Grind: Coarse

Directions: Preheat pot and plunger with hot water. Empty water and towel dry.
Measure one-tablespoon of coffee grounds for each six-ounce cup into the cylinder.
Pour in water (just off the boil) and thoroughly stir the grounds for one minute.
Set the plunger on top of the cylinder—do not press down yet, let steep four minutes.
Press the plunger down slowly. Allow sediment to settle for 30 seconds before pouring.
Note: If the plunger does not press down easily, try a slightly coarser grind.

Drip Coffee Maker                          Grind: Medium

Brewing the perfect cup

Water and Temperature

Start with fresh cold water -- Water quality can dramatically affect the taste of coffee. Use filtered or bottled water in areas where the tap water is unpleasant. Use cold water, freshly drawn; you should not use water that has been sitting in pipes or in a boiler. It will taste flat.

When it comes to brewing coffee, water temperature is very important. It will determine the flavors that end up in your cup.

For all coffee brewing methods other than espresso machines, the ideal water temperature is referred to as just off the boil— This is the temperature that a boiling pot of water falls to the moment it is removed from its heat source (Specifically between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit.)

Avoid boiling water excessively, it will drive off the air in the water and flatten the taste.

Water at temperatures cooler than 195 degrees will not extract the full flavor of the coffee beans.

Use a thermal carafe to keep coffee hot for up to two hours without losing any flavor.

Never boil or reheat coffee—it literally boils away the flavor.

Measure your coffee carefully

We recommend using two level tablespoons of ground coffee for each six ounces of water.

Coffee Bean Storage

To preserve the flavor of coffee beans they should be protected from air, light, and moisture. Valve bags are airtight coffee bags with small one-way valves that allow gases to escape but do not allow air into the bag.

The valve bag was a significant development for the specialty coffee industry since it allows coffee roasters to package freshly roasted coffee without first degassing the coffee beans. After roasting, coffee beans give off a tremendous amount of gas, which will expand sealed packages not equipped with a one-way valve. If packaged immediately in valve bag, freshly roasted coffee will produce enough gas to expel most of the oxygen from the bag—allowing the beans to stay fresh much longer.

If you purchase large quantities of coffee beans, store them unopened in the freezer.
Thaw frozen coffee beans before opening to prevent water from condensing on the beans. Refreezing coffee beans is not recommended.

If you purchase large amounts of coffee beans and have opened the valve bag, store the remaining beans in an airtight container.